By Paige Shelton
Published by Minotaur Books
In the midst of wedding plans in a quaint Scottish village, Delaney finds herself in the middle of a mystery as old as Loch Ness itself. While hunting for a replacement pastor to officiate her wedding to pub owner, Tom Shannon, Delaney meets local Nessie expert Norval Fraser. Norval takes a liking to Delaney and the fact that she is willing to listen to his story and look at his "work". Norval is later found dead, murdered in his flat amidst his collection of all things Nessie related. Norval swears that the beast took his Dad away but his family and former neighbors tell a different tale, a sad story of abandonment and a young boys attempt to cope with a heart breaking truth. Delaney is one smart researcher, which is what landed her the job at The Cracked Spine, taking care of all things antique especially books as she manages the "warehouse" and looks for the who and why someone would do harm to such a harmless old man. While his collection might have fetched a pretty penny was it worth killing for? His nephew and sometime caretaker is suspect due to questionable investment dealings. There is the other Nessie expert, did he do it to acquire something new to his collection that he coveted from Norval's collection? Delaney's family has hopped across the pond and are ready to help her sleuth as well. Thoroughly entertaining book with a great cast of characters especially the bookstore staff. I look forward to reading another very soon!
By Connie Berry
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Kate Hamilton, antiques whisperer, and widower has returned to her late husband's childhood home in Scotland at the request of his distraught sister and just in time for the Tartan Ball and big news. It has been 3 years since Kate's husband died of a heart attack while sailing. Memories and ghosts seem to haunt her with a promise to look after a sister in law who hasn't spoken to her since that fateful day. The same sister in law who is found dead with an arrow through her throat just like a historic figure and possible ghost of the manor. Kate finds herself drawn to this mystery and there is the promise she made her late husband to watch after his sister. Kate also finds herself drawn to the handsome Chief Inspector Tom Mallory from England, staying at the hotel on holiday (he too is a surviving spouse). Plenty of motive in this one from claims of ancestral rights to loss of livelihood by the workers of the hotel upon learning of the impending sale to a Swedish company of all things. The least likely suspect, simple and naive Bo is taken in for questioning which spurns Kate on to finding the killer and solving not only her sister in laws murder but also the historic unsolved crime based on a local legendary hero. Great read, characters were developed nicely and had I not already read the second installment first I would have been questioning the motives of a few of the characters. Great descriptions that elicited an emotional response. Be sure to read my next entry to see where Kate ends up for Christmas.
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